A close reading of Beowulf and the contradictions made within the text

The epic poem Beowulf contains contradictions about the heroic character of the protagonist Beowulf. Two certain passages in Beowulf, one at the beginning of the text and one near the end, offer evidence of inconsistencies within Beowulf's character. We must ask one question of the poem's protagonist: Is he really the hero he claims to be? Certain aspects of Beowulf's integrity, mainly his lies about people's perceptions of him, contradict the conventional classification of a hero.

The legend of Beowulf begins with King Hrothgar, who is in a dilemma because Grendel, an evil monster, has been unremittingly attacking Heorot for twelve years. Beowulf, a warrior and thane of the Geat King Hygelac, hears of this and decides that he must go to Heorot to help Hrothgar, for he is the only one who can accomplish this great feat:

;He announced his plan:

to sail the swan's road and seek out that king,

that famous prince who needed defenders.

Nobody tried to keep him from going,

No elder denied him, dear as he was to them.

Instead they inspected omens and spurred

His ambition to go [...] (200-209).

This passage is one of the first introductions to Beowulf as a character. The sentence "...prince who need defenders" portrays Beowulf as a noble warrior, well respected at home. He would "seek out that king," the king who needed Beowulf the great warrior. Here, the poet's word choice implies that Beowulf is fearless. Beowulf knows that he is the only one who can help Hrothgar, the "famous prince who needed defenders." But Hrothgar had other warriors who helped to defend Heorot from Grendel, "...powerful counselors, the highest in the land, would lend advice, plotting how best the bold defenders might resist and beat off sudden attacks" (171-74). Here, it is evident that Beowulf has told a lie. It is not true that Hrothgar needed defenders. Although Hrothgar had defenders that may have been unsuccessful in the slaying of the monster, that does not...

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...Grendel is a man-eating demon that lives in the land of the Spear-Danes and attacks King Hrothgar's mead-hall, Heorot, every evening. The narrator of Beowulf claims that Grendel's motivation is hearing Hrothgar's bard sing songs about God's creation of the world, which rubs his demonic nature the wrong way. Whatever the reason, every night Grendel slaughters more Danes and feeds on their corpses after tearing them limb from limb. Although he can't be harmed by the blade of any edged weapon, Grendel finally meets his match when the Geatish warrior Beowulf takes him on in a wrestling match.
Cannibalism, curses, and Cain, oh my!
The poet explains that Grendel and his mother are the descendants of the Biblical Cain, which suggests not only that they are part of a larger religious or supernatural scheme of evil, but also that they are connected with one of the worst things possible in tribal culture – fratricide, or the killing of a brother. However, at other points in the poem, Grendel seems less like a Biblical figure and more like a ghost, a demon, or something else that belongs in a Halloween-themed horror movie.
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Life Is Fleeting: A CloseReading of Beowulf (1758-1760)
1758 “O flower of warriors, beware of that trap.
Choose, dear Beowulf, the better part,
1760 eternal rewards…”
This excerpt from Beowulf is part of a speech which Hrothgar gives after Beowulf fulfills his promise and defeats the monsters that terrorized the Danes; those monsters being Grendel and Grendel’s mother. In this speech, Hrothgar praises Beowulf and contrasts him with Heremod, an evil king who “suffered in the end” (1720) for treating his kingdom badly. Hrothgar promises to reward Beowulf greatly for his victory, but also warns him not to let himself be corrupted by greed for temporary earthy things. Life itself has a temporary and fleeting nature, found both in material possessions and the limited amount of time to spend on this earth. The words and phrases that make up this passage illustrate a common theme, which is the transiency of life.
At the beginning of the passage, Beowulf is addressed as a “flower of warriors” (1758), which is a juxtaposition and initially does not seem to make sense. The word “warrior” – relating to the strength, experience, and bravery which Beowulf himself is an example of – is being compared to a delicate flower. The word “flower” alone, however, has multiple...

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Religious Contradictions in Beowulf
Throughout all three sections of Burton Raffel’s translation of Beowulf, religion is a contradicted theme. The story is told in late medieval Anglo-Saxon period, which has been Christianized, but it's about early medieval Scandinavia, which is pagan. The narrator of the poem compromises by making constant references to God in general terms. Although the poet can't get away from the fact that the hero, Beowulf, would have been a pagan, he can suggest that Beowulf's trust in God translates easily into a Christian context.
In the beginning of the poem, Beowulf’s fight with Grendel, the monster is clearly of the pagan religion, but is described as the son of Cain, a Biblical reference. Both religions’ values are expressed in the description of Grendel. “Grendel was the name of this grim demon haunting the marches… he had dwelt for a time in misery among the banished monsters, Cain's clan…” describing Grendel as a descendent of a biblical character representing Christianity. This however contradicts Christianity because according to this religion, monsters are not a being to walk the Earth in human form. Raffel also creates contrast by telling how the Danes made sacrifices to idols on their altars in hopes that the devil would help them with the problem of Grendel.
Christian and pagan ideals are the motivation for vengeance in Grendel's mother's attack in the...

...BeowulfReading Questions
Important Places and People
Danes:
Geats:
Hrothgar:
Herot:
Grendel:
Beowulf:
Higlac:
Wiglaf:
The Wrath of Grendel
1. What angered Grendel?
2. What do the scops (minstrels) in Herot sing about?
3. Who were Grendel’s parents?
4. What did Grendel find when he entered Herot? What did he do?
5. How did Hrothgar and his people react?
6. Who were the only survivors?
7. How long was Herot empty?
8. What object did Grendel never touch? Why?
9. How did the Danes sometimes try to solve their problems with Grendel? What advice does the author give about this?
The Coming of Beowulf
1. Who was Beowulf?
2. What does Beowulf do when he hears of Grendel’s attacks?
3. What did Beowulf and his men do when they landed safely?
4. Who met Beowulf and his men when they came ashore? What did he ask?
5. What were some of Beowulf’s accomplishments?
6. What does Beowulf request of Hrothgar?
7. How will Beowulf fight Grendel?
8. What does Beowulf request Hrothgar do if he (Beowulf) is defeated?
9. How does Beowulf say the battle will be decided?
The Battle with Grendel
1. What is different about Herot on this night when Grendel arrives?
2. What did Grendel find in the hall? What was his...

...Anul I
RE
BeowulfBeowulf is the oldest epic poem in the English language. It was written in Old English, the language of the Saxons. In the 19th century the poem began to be called by the name of its Scandinavian hero. Historical elements run through the poem, but both the hero and the story are fiction. The poem was composed between the 8th and the 11th centuries. The text exists in only one manuscript which dates from about the year 1000. The manuscript was burned in 1731. Kevin S. Kiernan, one of the world's foremost Beowulf scholars, has studied the manuscript. In this volume he presented his novel conclusions about the date of Beowulf. This volume will be a must read English history and literature. Handwriting style reveals that it was inscribed by two different people.
[pic]
(The manuscript)
Beowulf was written in Old English, what is more different from Modern English.
The next boxes contain the opening lines of the poem in the original version and a translation:
|Hwæt. We Gardena in gear-dagum, |What. We of the Spear-Danes in |
| | old days |
|þeodcyninga, þrym gefrunon. |of the people-kings, power heard....

...British Literature
Academic Paper #1
Confliction withinBeowulf
Conflict is a condition of opposition and discord. In a novel or story a main character may be the focus in determining the result of a conflict. Therefore, secondary characters often may be discounted for their own parts in the resolution to the story. Hrothgar, the king of the Dane’s and a secondary character in the epic, Beowulf, written by an unknown author, was responsible for abolishing his land of the monstrosity that plagued his domain.
Hrothgar rid his country of evil that haunted his realm by utilizing his great wisdom. King Hrothgar bared the ability to discern and judge what was true, right and lasting. He processed accountable and reliable knowledge. Hrothgar had the experience and understanding to follow the soundest course of action. This was evident in the epic when Beowulf, the powerful and foreign warrior, entered Hrothgar’s kingdom to seek permission to subdue Grendel, the shepherd of evil, who was terrorizing Hrothgar’s region. While requesting his service, Beowulf, in lines 407-455, boasted of his accomplishments and endeavors. For instance Beowulf states this, “They had never seen me boltered (clot) in the blood of enemies when I battled and bound five beasts, raided a troll nest, and in the night-sea slaughtered sea-brutes,” (419-422). Then Unferth, one of Hrothgar’s council members, taunted...

...Hrothgar and King Beowulf
Summary: The ideal king in the Anglo-Saxon culture first gains power and wealth through successful wars, and then gains loyalty through friendships and generous gift giving. King Sheafson described in the first part of Beowulf exhibited courage, greatness, power and wealth - all attributes important to the popularity of kings.The ideal king in the Anglo-Saxon culture first gains power and wealth through successful wars, and then gains loyalty through friendships and generous gift giving. King Sheafson described in the first part of Beowulf exhibited courage, greatness, power and wealth - all attributes important to the popularity of kings. He was a, "a wrecker of mead-benches." (1.5). Then, realized that loyalty is best attained through fairness and friendship (1.24-25). King Sheafson first proves himself through success at war and after gains popularity &amp; loyalty through friendship and gifts. King Hrothgar was not always a gentle lord. He may seem measly because he does not fight the monster. Look closely when Hrothgar says, "I was then in the first flush of kinship, establishing my sway over the rich strongholds of this heroic land (3.465-66)." King Hrothgar first by conquered in war, resulting in the acquirement of money and goods. Then, as he aged, he became a "treasure giver" (4.607), giving "gifts to others" (6.950). He also developed loyalty through friendships, especially felt at the teary...